AI Image of Trump as Pope Goes Viral
An AI-generated image of President Donald Trump dressed as the pope has gone viral, stirring both amusement and outrage online.
The image, posted by the White House on its X account Friday, quickly became a sensation, garnering millions of views after being shared on Trump’s Truth Social account.
The photo shows Trump in traditional papal attire, with bright white vestments accented with gold.
He is depicted holding his index finger aloft, mimicking the gesture often associated with papal authority.
The White House’s post was lighthearted, and many conservative figures responded with humor, while others criticized the image for being offensive.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) joined in the lightheartedness, jokingly suggesting that there was “strong momentum” for Trump to become the next pope, as reported by the New York Post.
Graham humorously noted that Trump, as a non-denominational Christian, would need to convert to Catholicism in order to be eligible.
He even hinted that the papal conclave, set to convene soon, could be pivotal in Trump’s rise to the papacy.
Supportive comments continued to flood social media, with conservative writer Rod Dreher suggesting a new slogan: “Make Rome Borgia Again.”
Some even found humor in the idea that Trump’s image might prompt the left to defend religion, which they found “beautiful.” Others simply shared their amusement at the absurdity of the meme.
Despite the laughter, the image was met with severe criticism from the Catholic community.
The New York State Catholic Conference condemned the image, calling it “offensive and sacrilegious.”
The group expressed dismay, especially in light of the recent death of Pope Francis and the impending papal conclave to elect his successor.
The Catholic Bishops of New York issued a statement, asking the president to “cease this offensive and sacrilegious behavior,” referencing the solemnity of the conclave set for May 7.
The statement emphasized the respect due to the process of selecting the next pope and called for an end to mockery of the Church.
Some individuals defended the image, suggesting it was simply a form of typical Trump humor.
Eric Sammons, editor-in-chief of Crisis magazine, remarked that he wasn’t offended by the meme, noting that Trump’s humor often didn’t warrant serious interpretation.
Others expressed similar sentiments, focusing on the lighthearted nature of the post rather than its potential to offend.
Historian Tom Holland wryly commented on the image, referring to Trump in papal attire as an example of “Caesaropapism,” blending the roles of political and religious power.
Some saw the image as a satirical commentary on the relationship between political figures and religious institutions.
Meanwhile, Trump’s recent trip to Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral was also a topic of discussion. Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the funeral, continuing his diplomatic efforts to mediate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
As the conclave approaches, speculation grows about who will succeed Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 after a prolonged illness.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, is currently the favorite, with Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson also in contention.
While Trump’s image as the pope continues to circulate online, it remains a point of contention.
Some, including Vice President JD Vance, defended the meme, emphasizing that humor should not be taken too seriously.
Vance, a Catholic, noted that he was more concerned about the wars that harm thousands than about jokes made at the president’s expense.
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